A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, says the secessionist agitation by the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, weakens the chances of the Igbo people to produce a credible presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

He spoke in an interview with Channels TV on Sunday monitored by The PUNCH.

According to the 96-year-old statesman, the South-East geopolitical zone must convince Nigerians beyond any reasonable doubt that it is ready to occupy the exalted office in 2023.

Kanu, who is in the custody of the Department of States Services, is facing terrorism-related charges before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja. He and his group had listed alleged marginalisation of the Igbo people in governance, insecurity, as part of the reasons for his agitation.

With the 2023 elections fast approaching, demands for a President from the South-East continues to rise, with socio-political groups like the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; as well as the five governors in the South-East calling for the zone to produce the next President, after the eight-year regime of the incumbent, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who is from Daura, Katsina State.

Ohanaeze and the governors led by Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State claimed that no President has emerged from the zone since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Some politicians in the South-East have since defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition Peoples Democratic Party as part of permutations for the next presidential election.

Speaking during the interview, Yakasai said the Igbo people must not sit back and demand that the next Presidency be zoned to them.

He said, “The card is on the Southeastern people’s desk. It is up to them to try to reach out. I’m a strong supporter of a President from the South after Buhari and also if he can come from the South-East I have no problem.

“My quarrel is that this is not something you just stay at home and pray that people will just dash it to you; you have to show interest, you have to be serious, you have to try to convince people that you are really up to the task. This is what in my opinion is missing from the South-East.

“There is that desire on their part but they are not exact in their position to manifest that desire to convince people that are rarely serious about it.

“There is this anxiety in Nigeria about the position of the South-East because it is surprising to many people including people like me… This Nnamdi Kanu who ordinarily to me would not be a good candidate for the governorship of any of the South-Eastern state is now claiming the attention (and) support of prominent people in the South-East is making people doubt if the South-East is really ready to produce a credible candidate that would help Nigeria as a whole. That doubt is there.”

Aufbauh:
Kanu & his Ipob mob has really postponed any chances of an Igbo man becoming the president of the federal Republic Of Nigeria.

Their closest assurance will be the Biafra Republic which is also not cuming soon.

Aufbauh:
[s]Kanu & his Ipob mob has really postponed any chances of an Igbo man becoming the president of the federal Republic Of Nigeria.

Their closest assurance will be the Biafra Republic which is also not cuming soon.[/s]

Zetra7:
NADECO and OPC didnt weaken the position of SW in 1999.
Niger Delta militancy didn't weaken the position of SS in 2011.

Boko haram didn't weaken the position of the North in 2015

But IPOB will weaken the position of SE in 2023.

Hmmmm, when I was young , I thought all older people were smart and wise but now am older I know many of my mates that are fools..


Tanko or whatever your name is, you're a bigot Northerner whose only mercy for the south stops on the Muslim ends. Be a man and raise your banner for Tinubu and stop talking rubbish...






Even if there was no Ipob or agitation on the SE, men like a Tanko will never support an Igbo presidency...

Maxymilliano:
Malami Tanko Yakassai is right, just as Boko Haram and bandits weakened the chances of the north producing another president come 2023

Emergingnation:
Saying chronic unity beggar from Fulani stock !!

Igbo don't want your presidency, all we want is Biafra be actualization which is imminent..

You can continue to govern your terrorist ravaged region forever, with your preferred Sharia rules through Hisbah terrorist for all we care

gidgiddy:
I laugh when I read things like this.

Despite the killer herdsmen that are slaughtering people all across Nigeria being mainly of Fulani stock, it didnt stop a Fulani man like Buhari emerging president

So what is it that Kanu did that would stop an Igbo man being president? Personally, I think that Igbos should forget that useless seat of President that has never helped anyone and focus on self determination

But people should stop using double standards in Nigeria. If we were to take stock of what Boko haram, ISWAP and killer herdsmen have done, no Northerner deserves to be president

PROUDIGBO:


If there was no IPOB and Mazi kanu, they'd look for another 'reason' to give for not supporting a president of Igbo extraction!

Danjikanbauchi:
If Boko Haram Terrorists groups and miyetti Allah Terrorist groups didn't stop the chances of north producing president or igboho to Yorubas, I don't think IPOB that are just freedom fighters did to SE.

longetivity:
I still don't know what the IGBOS want between Biafra and presidential seat

Ovamboland:


Even the Biafra republic your are still begging for it. Presidency, still same begging, no arrow head no strategy.

See the way the Yoruba has a long lineup of capable hands that people are now choosing, yet they're not fighting each other.

Ovamboland:


Disguising Okorobauchi, I no tell you?

gidgiddy:
I laugh when I read things like this.

Despite the killer herdsmen that are slaughtering people all across Nigeria being mainly of Fulani stock, it didnt stop a Fulani man like Buhari emerging president

So what is it that Kanu did that would stop an Igbo man being president? Personally, I think that Igbos should forget that useless seat of President that has never helped anyone and focus on self determination

But people should stop using double standards in Nigeria. If we were to take stock of what Boko haram, ISWAP and killer herdsmen have done, no Northerner deserves to be president

PROUDIGBO:


If there was no IPOB and Mazi kanu, they'd look for another 'reason' to give for not supporting a president of Igbo extraction!

Maxymilliano:

Copyright PUNCH.


https://punchng.com/2023-presidency-nnamdi-kanu-weakens-south-easts-chances-of-producing-credible-candidate-yakasai/#Echobox=1638185246